FOREST GROVE, Ore. — It was deja vu all over again for the Pacific and Linfield softball teams as they split a doubleheader on Saturday at Sherman/Larkins Stadium.
Linfield won the opener 2-0 and the Boxers prevailed for the late afternoon win, 3-2. After also splitting on Friday night, Pacific is now 16-7-1 on the season and 8-4 in Northwest Conference play. No. 16 nationally ranked Linfield is now 13-8 overall and 5-5 in league action.
In the opener, Maddy Dunn and Brynn Lio combined in the pitcher's circle to shutout their hosts. Dunn went the first five innings, scattering six hits without walking a batter. Lio then pitched the final two frames without allowing a hit for the save.
Nonetheless, the Boxers had their chances to score against the Wildcat duo. Pacific had runners on third base four different times and couldn't get any of them home. Overall, they left eight runners on base during the contest.
Rachel Roberts reached third base twice, after singling and stealing second base. She was the only Pacific player with more than one hit. Linfield scored their runs, both of them unearned, thanks in part to a Maddy Colson triple in the third inning and an error and wild pitch in the seventh.
Marissa Reichard took the loss despite not giving up an earned run. She allowed seven hits in seven innings of work, walked two and fanned three.
In the second game, each team took turns scoring first via the long ball. Pacific got on the board in the second inning when
Quirena Natividad blasted a shot over the 215-feet sign in centerfield, but Linfield answered in the fourth on a round-tripper by Melanie Oord off the flag pole in right.
Reichard was again dealing from the rubber in a duel with Shelby Saylors as the game went into the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Roberts started a rally with a single and two more stolen bases. A walk to
Kaitlynn Donaca put another runner on board, and both were brought home on
Kylee Yamamoto's triple to make it 3-1.
The Boxers would need those extra runs because Linfield would add a score in the sixth when Erin Kinney tripled home Paige Smotherman. The Wildcats would also threaten in the seventh after pinch-hitter Darian Stedman singled and was sacrificed to second base. Jen Hiatt, another pinch hitter, followed with another single, moving Stedman to third. But Stedman was then picked off third base by Boxer catcher
Emily Tesdale and Reichard got the final out to end the game.
Reichard went the distance in both games, but got the win in the second to improve to 10-3 on the season. The senior left-hander gave up eight hits and struck out four.
Natividad had the home run and a double to the Boxers at the plate.
Pacific will travel east next weekend, taking on Whitworth in a four-game series on March 25-26.
